A while back I saw a recipe for Stuffed Mushrooms in a Vegan cookbook. Yesterday I found myself at the market, without a clue on what to cook for dinner. I saw Stuffer Mushrooms, and decided I would wing it without a recipe or an ingredient list.

This is way out of my comfort zone. I usually consult books, the internet, and even read all reviews of recipes before I commit to making something. And sometimes it is still a huge disappointment!

At the supermarket, I started thinking about ingredients for Stuffed Bell Peppers, and thought that reversing the ingredients might be a safe bet. When I realized I could serve with Panko Crumbs, I was sold (yes, I am still lovin’ Panko Crumbs!).

Beyond that, I didn’t have a plan. To make things more interesting, we were having company over for dinner! I’ve had enough dish flops in my day to know that this is a bad combo.

There’s been LOTS of times I’ve tossed food in the trash and we went out to eat but I sure didn’t want to do that with our guests!

Here’s the dish on my Not So Stuffed Mushrooms.

How long it takes

About 1 hour.

Here’s the breakdown:

5-10 minutes to prep/chop veggies

20-30 minutes to sauté veggies

20 minutes to bake Stuffed Mushrooms

2 minutes to sprinkle Panko Crumbs on top

20 SECONDS to brown Panko Crumbs

Ingredients

(2) Green Bell Peppers

(2) Yellow or White Onion

(2) 14-ounce containers of Stuffer Mushrooms

(1) Can Aduki Beans – Only using 1/2 the can (The same beans used in the Chinese desert “Red Bean”)

First, these simple facts: I enjoy cooking and I like trying new recipes. Even when the meal turns out bad, which they all-too-often do, I still learn from the process.

So. Last night, The Hub was working late. Again. I had already planned this yummy meal, went to the market for all the stuff, and mentally prepared myself for the 1 hour and 45 minute investment to make Red Lentils with Rice and Pita Crisps.

Things started out great. I get onions. I know onions. I cook onions at almost every meal. I even (accidentally) poisoned the dog with onions. The Hub flinches at the $800 vet bill. I want to cry thinking about the fact that my poor little fur-ball almost died. Really. She was 2 blood count points from a blood transfusion. Yikes!

Back to the onions.

Chopped in circles.

Onion Circles

Roasted to perfection. Of course.

Roasted Deliciousness

The lentils had a good start. Or so I thought. In hindsight, this may have been where Good Eats turned into Good Eats Gone Bad.

1 Cup Means 1 Cup

* * *Post edit:

As I was proof-reading this before hitting “publish”, I realized that I put way too many lentils in the cup. I wonder if this was the problem?